Address of Timothy Parsons to the Publick

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The General Court having ordered that the Committee of Correspondence in the several Towns should be authorized to clear out vessels, the property of well known friends to this Country, to go to the southward after provisions, the said Thomas Rice, with the rest of the Committee, cleared out said Wood' s Sloop, Zebulon Baker, master, although he has been published an open enemy to this Country. It is therefore hoped, in justice to the cause of liberty, as well as to prevent said Wood from supplying the people in Nova-Scotia, where he has a store, and carries on trade now with provisions, contrary to the Resolves of the Continental Congress, that the Committee, in what port she now is or may be at, will detain her so as to prevent such abandoned designs being executed.

Question 1. Did you clear out Abiel Wood' s Sloop because he has made it his business for nine months past to curse both Continental and Provincial Congresses, and tell the most scandalous lies of them which he could invent?

2. Was it because he endeavoured to discourage the good people of this place from regarding the Continental Association?

3. Was it because he tried to frighten the people of the Town from choosing Militia Officers, and a person for learning them the exercise, by telling them it was high treason, and they would all be hanged for it; and by such actions has got a party of about forty men in the Town to join with him; has deterred the youth from their noble designs, by reading the law respecting the London apprentices, and concluded by saying, if they met to exercise, they would be hanged in the same manner with them?

4. Was it because he, in a most notorious manner, broke the Continental Association, and in consequence was published in the papers as an enemy to his Country?

5. Was it because he traded, and now continues to trade, to Nova-Scotia, in open violation of the Continental Resolves, and his determination of carrying the provisions there, for which his vessel is gone by your recommendation?

6. Was it because the Committee of Inspection voted it unsafe to let his sloop proceed on her voyage, as she was going with supplies to a place prohibited by the Congress?

7. Was it because he, with Thomas Rice, Esq˙, one of your Committee, granted a warrant for the annual March meeting, agreeable to one of the Acts of Parliament, against which the present noble resistance is made?

8. Was it because you are determined to avert the just punishment which he is liable to for violating the Association, by assisting him to carry on a trade with the enemy?

9. Was it because you thought him a friend to this Country, by endeavouring to establish the mild Acts of Parliament lately exported from England; Acts which were granted to take our money without our consent; block

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Such, gentlemen, are the real facts which you know Wood has been guilty of; and if from them you draw the conclusion that be was a friend to this Country; or if it was from other motives, I should be glad to have them in answer to this, through the channel of the newspapers, so that your conduct, which appears to be that of the Town, may appear to the world in its true, proper or improper light.

I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

TIMOTHY PARSONS.

Pownalborough, October 3, 1775.